Eric Martin Promoted as President of Employee Owned Holdings, Inc.

Houston, TX – December 4, 2024 – Employee Owned Holdings, Inc. (EOH), the 100% employee-owned parent company of Hydraquip, Inc., GCC, and Supreme Integrated Technology, Inc. (SIT), today announced the promotion of Eric Martin to be its President.

Eric’s journey with the EOH family began around 18 years ago, when he started as an Account Manager for Hydraquip Corporation, showcasing exceptional technical expertise, a talent for building strong customer relationships, and a proven ability to drive profitable revenue growth. After several years of working sales at Hydraquip, Inc., Eric transitioned to SIT in 2021 to become its Sales Director. In his new position, Eric quickly demonstrated impactful leadership capabilities, earning further promotions as Vice President of Sales for SIT and later General Manager of SIT’s Houston office. Eric’s strategic vision and leadership have been pivotal in driving significant growth for SIT.

Over the years, Eric has earned impressive recognition at the company, being named as a three-time Salesperson of the Year and later being elected by its employee-owners to serve on the EOH Board of Directors on four separate occasions. Eric’s steadfast commitment to driving revenue growth, fostering synergistic opportunities amongst the EOH companies, and maintaining unwavering integrity in interactions with all stakeholders has solidified his reputation as a trusted and impactful leader.

As President of EOH, Eric will collaborate closely with Richard Neels and the EOH Board of Directors as they help guide the organization’s family of employee-owned companies. Eric’s responsibilities will include shaping and executing EOH’s strategic growth vision, ensuring the long-term success and stewardship of the company’s employee stock ownership plan, evaluating opportunities for strategic acquisitions, and spearheading technology advancements to position EOH as a leader in innovation.

“Eric Martin’s promotion is a testament to his relentless dedication, strong relationship-building, and commitment to excellence for our customers, vendors and colleagues,” said Richard Neels, CEO of EOHI. “His leadership aligns with our commitment to recognizing and developing talent from within.”

EOH is the 100% employee-owned parent company of Hydraquip, Inc., GCC, and Supreme Integrated Technology, Inc., based in Houston, Texas. Together, these companies provide cutting-edge solutions for marine, civil, industrial, and military applications, embodying a commitment to innovation and customer success.

For more information about EOH and its family of companies, please visit www.eoh-inc.com.

Employee Owned Holdings, Inc. Releases 2024 Sustainability Report: Commitment to Environmental and Social Responsibility

Houston, Texas, April 29, 2024 – Employee Owned Holdings, Inc. (EOH) is proud to announce the release of its 2024 Sustainability Report. This comprehensive report outlines EOH and its affiliated companies’ ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and ethical business practices.

The 2024 Sustainability Report showcases EOH’s dedication to support better business practices across all aspects of its operations. Highlights of the report include:

  • Environmental Initiatives: EOH continues to prioritize environmental sustainability by implementing initiatives to reduce its carbon footprint, minimize waste generation, and conserve natural resources. The report details progress made in energy efficiency, renewable energy adoption, water conservation efforts, and waste management practices.
  • Social Responsibility: EOH remains committed to fostering positive social impact within the communities it serves. The report highlights EOH’s efforts to support local communities through philanthropic activities, employee volunteer programs, and partnerships with nonprofit organizations. Additionally, the report outlines EOH’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in its workforce and supply chain.
  • Ethical Business Practices: Upholding the highest standards of integrity and ethics is paramount to EOH. The report provides insights into EOH’s corporate governance structure, compliance programs, and efforts to promote transparency and accountability in its business operations.

“We are pleased to share our 2024 Sustainability Report, which reflects this company’s steadfast commitment to making a positive difference in the world,” said Richard Neels, CEO of EOH. “As a responsible corporate citizen, we recognize the importance of sustainability in everything we do. This report demonstrates our progress and sets the stage for continued improvement as we work towards a better future.”

EOH invites stakeholders, including customers, investors, employees, and the broader community, to explore the 2024 Sustainability Report and provide any feedback to drive positive change.

EOH is a 100% employee owned company based in Houston, Texas and the parent of Hydraquip, Inc., Supreme Integrated Technology, Inc. and GCC collectively doing business in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Florida, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Tennessee, Arkansas, Arizona & New Mexico.

February 2024 Employee Spotlight

Meet our February Employee Spotlight, Kammie Metters! Kammie is a part of our Hydraquip Houston team. Let’s get to know her better:

What is your role? Briefly describe what you do.

“Operations Assistant – pulling strings and pushing buttons.” 😊

Who/what inspires you?

“My daughter is my ultimate inspiration. She fuels my drive, determination, and resilience, instilling in me a relentless pursuit of success. Her presence has transformed my perspective, renewing my purpose and commitment to continuous improvement.”

If you had to pick one strength you bring the to team, what would it be?

“I am unmistakably a Taurus.”

What do you like to do in your free time?

“What is free time? Where do you get this?”

If I could learn how to do one thing, what would it be?

“I want to learn ALL the things! Absolutely, everything. Fun Fact? Count me in! New regulations or guidelines? Let me find a pen!”

Where were you born?

“Texan by birth and by heart!”

What’s the best thing about your job?

“In operations, I get a backstage pass to the show. I get to see a little snippet of each department and watch as it all comes together.”

What’s been one of your proudest moments at EOHI?

“Stay tuned. I am just getting started.”

How do you define success?

“Viewing failure as an opportunity rather than a dead end is key. If you extract lessons and insights from each experience, setbacks become moments for reflection, adaptation, and growth. Recognizing that success and failure are intertwined, and fully embracing them both, will lead you to a level of success many will never reach.”

Employee Owned Holdings, Inc. Announces New CFO

Houston, Texas, February 7, 2024 – Employee Owned Holdings, Inc. (EOH), the parent company of Hydraquip, Inc., GCC, and Supreme Integrated Technology, Inc., today announced the hiring of Paul Oliphant as its new chief financial officer. Paul succeeds Matt Weisser, the previous CFO, who had been promoted to be the President of EOH in September 2023.

Paul joins EOH with close to 30 years of experience in the areas of finance, accounting, and financial management, going back to his origin as an auditor for Ernst & Young, LLP in 1995. Paul had most recently worked as the CFO and SVP for Velentium, LLC, a company engaged in the design, development and manufacturing of medical devices. As CFO, Paul will oversee corporate finance, accounting, and the risk management requirements for the company, and report directly to the company’s President.

“We are extremely excited to have Paul join us. Paul’s capability and potential were evident when we met and we feel he will be quite proficient at continuing the successes that makes this such a wonderful company to be a part of,” said Matt Weisser, President of EOH.

“I’ve been immensely impressed with this company, its goals, and its leadership,” said Paul Oliphant. “I’m excited to join a company with an excellent reputation and world-class customers and vendors.”

Paul holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from Texas A&M University and is also a certified public accountant. When not working, Paul also enjoys spending time with his wife, Denise, and his four sons, being active in various outdoor activities including mountain climbing, running and disc golf.

EOH is a 100% employee owned company based in Houston, Texas and the parent of Hydraquip, Inc., Supreme Integrated Technology, Inc. and GCC collectively doing business in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Florida, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Tennessee, Arkansas, Arizona & New Mexico.

Looking Back on a Year of Community Achievements: EOH Gives Back

As we approach the end of another remarkable year, it’s time to take a moment and bask in the glow of our collective achievements. This year has been a testament to the power of community and the incredible impact we can have when we come together.

Let’s kick things off by crunching some numbers! From volunteer hours to funds raised for charitable causes, our community has consistently exceeded expectations. Our EOH family supported 18 different charities throughout our local communities, including:

  • Jude’s
  • Houston Food Bank
  • Backpacks for Kids
  • Make-A-Wish
  • Volunteers of America
  • Combat Marine Outdoors
  • Toys for Tots – over 300 toys were donated from our EOH family this year!

As we close out the year, we are also proud to host our 3rd annual EOH Elf Campaign. In addition to our local Toys for Tots toy drives, we asked employees to nominate children in their lives who may not have many resources to receive gifts this Christmas. Our employees selected 18 children to participate in this initiative, with over 50 gifts being donated to help bring Christmas joy this year!

Behind every achievement, there’s a team of dedicated individuals ready to roll up their sleeves and make a difference. All of these community involvement initiatives were led by our dedicated FUEL leaders at each branch location. These individuals took on an extra workload to encourage and motivate their employees to participate in something greater. We are thankful for their leadership and to all our employees who came together to give back this year.

Here’s to a future filled with even more remarkable achievements and from a community that continues to make a positive mark on the world!

October 2023 Employee Spotlight

Meet our October 2023 Employee Spotlight, Courtney Ginsel! Courtney is a valuable team member at our Supreme Integrated Technology Houston branch. Let’s get to know her better:

What is your role?

“I am the Senior Project Manager.”

Briefly describe what you do.

“Based out of Houston, I manage a portion of SIT’s wide variety of projects.”

Who/what inspires you?

“Music! There’s a song for everything.”

If you had to pick one strength you bring the to team, what would it be?

“Smartsheet Pioneer – effort to improve how we do things.”

What do you like to do in your free time?

“I enjoy family get togethers with a big meal and LSU sports!”

If I could learn how to do one thing, what would it be?

“I would love to learn how to play guitar.”

Where were you born?

“Ville Platte, Louisiana.”

What’s the best thing about your job?

“The variety of scopes we undertake.”

What’s been one of your proudest moments at EOHI?

“Winning the Produces Results award in 2020.”

How do you define success?

“I like to refer to Ralph Waldo Emerson’s definition of success:

‘To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; … to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a little better; whether by a healthy child or a garden patch … to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is success.'”

Where is your favorite place that you’ve traveled?

“Boston in the fall.”

Unlocking Employee Ownership: The Power and Potential of ESOPs

October has arrived, and with it comes the celebration of Employee Ownership awareness month! As a proud ESOP company, we at EOH take great pleasure in expanding our knowledge and understanding of the invaluable benefits an ESOP can bring. This is also the perfect time to express our gratitude to our incredible employees, whose unwavering commitment and hard work contribute to the continued success of our business.

Are you familiar with the term “ESOP”? ESOP stands for “Employee Stock Ownership Plan” which is a qualified retirement plan that enables employees to be considered partial owners of the company they work for by receiving and growing beneficial shares of company stock. ESOPs are a form of employee benefit plan designed to provide employees with an additional layer of financial security and promote a sense of ownership in the company’s success. Here are some key points to understand about ESOPs:

  • Ownership Structure: In an ESOP, the company sets up a trust, known as the ESOP trust, which holds and manages the shares of company stock on behalf of employees. These shares are typically allocated within the trust to benefit employees based on factors like their salary or years of service.
  • Employee Participation: Employees do not purchase the shares allocated to them; they receive the benefit as part of their compensation package. Over time, as employees accumulate beneficial shares in the ESOP trust, they become beneficial owners of the company.
  • Financial Benefits: ESOP participants benefit in several ways:
    • As the company’s value grows, the value of the shares in the ESOP increases, potentially providing a source of wealth and financial security.
    • ESOP accounts can serve as a retirement savings vehicle, and employees can access their ESOP funds when they retire or meet specific criteria.
    • Depending on the structure and tax regulations, employees may enjoy certain tax advantages related to their ESOP participation.
  • Voting Rights: While employees have beneficial ownership of the company through the ESOP, the ESOP trust typically holds the voting rights associated with the shares. However, the trustee of the ESOP trust may vote the shares in alignment with the interests and preferences of the employees.
  • Exit Strategy: ESOPs are often used as a succession planning tool. Business owners can use ESOPs to gradually sell their shares to employees over time, facilitating a smooth transition of ownership while ensuring the company’s continuity.
  • Alignment of Interests: ESOPs are seen as a way to align the interests of employees and the company. By making employees partial owners, companies aim to foster a sense of ownership, accountability, and commitment among their workforce.
  • Management and Governance: In ESOP companies, the management team and board of directors typically work closely with the ESOP trustee to ensure that the interests of employee-owners are represented, and the company operates in a manner that generally benefits both employees and shareholders.
  • Regulations and Reporting: ESOPs are subject to various regulations and reporting requirements, including those outlined in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code. Compliance with these regulations is essential for ESOP companies.

Being a part of an ESOP company promotes employee retention, engagement, and financial well-being. Check out this video to hear personal testimonies from our employees for an inside look at what it means to work for an ESOP.

A special congratulations to the following employees at our company for being recognized as this years’ EOH Values Award Winners:

  • Robert Rasmusson (SIT): Acts with Integrity
  • David Gwartney (SIT): Always Seek Improvement
  • Amanda Simmons (SIT): Work Smart
  • Daniel Uribe: (SIT): Laser Customer Focus
  • Kevin Bonvillain (SIT): Produce Results
  • Wilfredo Gallardo (SIT): Work Smart
  • Katie Ferris (HYD): Work Smart
  • Bill Kadlec (HYD): Laser Customer Focus
  • Rodney Sexton: (HYD): Acts with Integrity
  • Russ Bailey: (HYD): Produce Results
  • Treg Murphy: (HYD): Laser Customer Focus
  • Adam Rowe (GCC): Produce Results
  • Donald Steinhart (GCC): Acts with Integrity
  • Erwin Stewart (GCC): Laser Customer Focus
  • Ken Davis (GCC): Work Smart
  • Kyle Lemieux (GCC): Produce Results
  • Evan Trapp (EOH): Always Seek Improvement
  • Jamie Chilcoat (EOH): Produce Results

EOH Announces Matt Weisser as New President

Houston, Texas – September 15, 2023 Employee Owned Holdings, Inc. (EOH), the parent company of Hydraquip, Inc., Supreme Integrated Technology, Inc., and GCC, announced today that Matthew Weisser has been appointed as the new President of the company. Richard Neels, previously acting as president of EOH, will continue to serve the company in his roles as its Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. In addition to his new role as president, Matt was elected to serve on the Board of Directors for EOH. Prior to becoming president, Matt had been serving as the Chief Financial Officer for EOH since 2015.

Matt has nearly 30 years of experience in leadership roles, first becoming a CFO for Avanti Companies in 1998 before serving in other CFO roles. Prior to coming to EOH, Mr. Weisser worked as the CFO for the T-Rex Companies, a group of companies formed to provide construction, engineering and fabrication services, and prior to that served as CFO for the engineering and project management firm Pegasus International Inc. While working as CFO for EOHI, Matt oversaw the company’s corporate finance, accounting, and risk management groups with additional responsibilities overseeing aspects of HR, corporate operations and IT.

“We are extremely excited to see Matt moving into this new responsibility,” said Richard Neels. “He is precisely the right person, with the vision, dedication, and capability to help direct the future of this company. His knowledge of so many aspects of this organization will be tremendously valuable as we continue to work together to achieve clear success.”

“Since the time I joined this organization, I have been highly impressed with its people, its culture, its goals, and its leadership,” said Matthew Weisser. “I’m honored to have been selected to serve in this new capacity and to be able to continue working with Richard and all employee owners to further our excellence.”

Matt holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin, a Master of Professional Accounting from the University of Texas at Austin and is also a certified public accountant.

EOH is a 100% employee owned company based in Houston, Texas and the parent of Hydraquip, Inc., Supreme Integrated Technology, Inc., and GCC, collectively doing business primarily in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Florida, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Tennessee, Arizona & New Mexico.

 

August 2023 Employee Spotlight

Meet our August 2023 Employee Spotlight, Nicole Urzendowski! Nicole has only been with our EOH company for a few short months but has fully embraced our company culture. Let’s get to know her better:

What is your role? Briefly describe what you do.

“I’m in Inside Sales at the Hydraquip Houston office. I started in June this year and have learned so much already! My responsibilities include answering sales inquiries to assist customers in finding what they are looking for, communicating with our vendors, producing quotes, and processing orders.”

Who/what inspires you?

“My mom will always be my number one role model. She grew up in Venezuela and studied electrical engineering then came to the United States to work in the oil field. At the time you didn’t see a lot of women in that industry, so that always impressed me. She is who inspired me to study engineering in college and has been there for me the whole way.”

If you had to pick one strength you bring the to team, what would it be?

“The strength I bring to the team is my attitude and positivity. I always strive to be a positive person and bring good energy into the office every day I walk through the doors. You will rarely see me in a bad mood or being negative, because life is too short for that!”

What do you like to do in your free time?

“In my free time I enjoy being active and outdoors (When it’s not 100 degrees outside). I like going to the gym, hiking, fishing, surfing, and always being on the beach!”

If I could learn how to do one thing, what would it be?

“I have always wanted to learn how to fly a plane. It seems like such an incredible feeling to just go fly around on your own and explore the world from up high.”

Where were you born?

“I was born in Katy Texas. Then I moved up to Seattle for a couple years and spent the rest of my time growing up in San Antonio.”

What’s the best thing about your job?

“My favorite part about my job is working with the people around me. Since I came here everyone has been incredibly helpful and so welcoming. I can ask any single person a question and they would drop what they are doing to help me.”

What’s been one of your proudest moments at EOHI?

“I’ve only been working for almost 3 months now, but my proudest moment here has to be right after Dylan Butler trained me and trusted me to start doing quotes and orders on my own. Thats when it really hit me that I graduated college, and I made it in the real world. I was trusted to set prices, sell these parts and be able to make an impact on this company’s profit. I can’t wait to see what I accomplish here in the future.”

How do you define success?

“For my first internship, I walked into that company feeling underqualified. All the other interns had experience before me and walked in so confidently ready to start. I even spent my whole first week trying to figure out what my project scope was while everyone else seemed to have theirs down. I wanted to quit so badly, but then it hit me that I must have something going for me if I was the only one hired with zero experience. I knew just sitting there complaining wouldn’t do anything. I may not be the smartest person in the room, but I will always be the hardest working. I walked into the office that second week with a new mindset and a desire for success. With determination, a goal, and a good work ethic I successfully finished my project that summer. Success can’t be accomplished without determination!”

Where is your favorite place that you’ve traveled to?

“My favorite place I’ve traveled to would have to be the Bahamas. They have the clearest water I’ve ever seen and the snorkeling there was unreal.”

June 2023 Employee Spotlight

Meet our June 2023 Employee Spotlight! Michael is a part of our EOH team in Houston, TX. Let’s get to know him better:

What is your role? Briefly describe what you do.

“As the attorney for the company I try to address any and all legal issues. So I am involved with compliance, with contracts, and with over a hundred other things (HR, acquisitions, Intellectual Property efforts, litigation, etc.)”

Who/what inspires you?

“I would say my family and my faith inspire me. My favorite novel is Les Miserables – it inspires me with Victor Hugo’s themes of redemption, charity, and love.”

If you had to pick one strength you bring the to team, what would it be?

“I have so many to choose from this is hard decision [sarcasm]… maybe my speed reading skills.”

What do you like to do in your free time?

“Family trips – especially to Disney properties for some reason…”

If I could learn how to do one thing, what would it be?

“Telekinesis I guess – it be pretty useful…”

Where were you born?

“In a hospital  –  and it was located in Murray, UT.”

What’s the best thing about your job?

“The great people I work with! And a great sense of accomplishment when I see where much effort is fully realized in something positive for the company.”

What’s been one of your proudest moments at EOHI?

“I really enjoy the “Bring your kids to work day” – and getting to impress them with the great works this company does!”

How do you define success?

“Usually I would default to using the Webster’s dictionary definition – but here I say: ‘positive achievement.’”

Where is your favorite place that you’ve traveled?

“There are several places in the Caribbean that are fantastic – but my island will always be Jamaica.”